In my role as a career coach, I am always looking for new ways to produce the "A-ha!" moments that produce real breakthroughs for my clients. For some, clarity comes as a result of a career assessment, for others it is the by-product of conversation, and for many, it is a result of a combination of strategies.
Over time, I've come to appreciate the power of visualization as a transformative tool for people looking to reinvent their careers. As human beings, we strive to make sense of the world through pictures --since the days of the cave people, graphic depictions have been an integral part of how we communicate and interpret the world around us.
Timothy Butler, author of Getting Unstuck, explains the power of images as a career clarification tool as follows, "These images are preverbal messages, aspects of self-awareness that have not yet been processed through the language centers of the brain. In being preverbal they have a premonitory quality. They bring news: hints about what might be if we are able to get the message and act on it. They point to knowledge about ourselves and our world that will be known more completely only later, when we have had time to take it in fully and express it in words."
Expressing your career/lifestyle goals through pictures, as opposed to articulating it in words, can be a powerful way to unlock vital clues and patterns that you've been struggling to express. Fortunately, in our everyday lives, we are surrounded by visual images that can be leveraged for this purpose. Here are some ways to analyze the images in your life to help create a more vivid picture of your future career direction:
1) Revisit photo albums: Spend a few hours going through old photo albums and scrapbooks. What do the photos tell you about your personality? Are there certain pictures of major milestones or magical moments that reflect clues about your talents, interests or unique assets?
2) Watch old family movies: Reviewing family videos can be an entertaining reminder of your innate gifts, talents and personality traits. It also can be a multi-sensory reminder of the distinct personality traits and interpersonal relationships that might be impacting your career path, in either a positive or negative manner.
3) Keep a clipping file: You know how you sometimes clip articles and photos from magazines for a "dream" file of beautiful homes or vacation ideas? Do the same for your career. Collect pictures that capture your view of the ideal work environment -- including photos of people, work settings and attractive work clothes.
4) Meditate: Every day, we are bombarded by so much information that it compromises our ability to focus on what is most meaningful in our lives. Set aside some quiet time to meditate on the types of activities and work environment that would make you happy. Notice the images that come to mind. Do you prefer to be in a fast-paced or quiet office? City or rural settings? Happier being with lots of people or working in solitude? Look for patterns and themes in your mental images.
5) Build a Vision Board: A a vision board is a collection of visual images (photos, paintings, pictures, etc.) displayed on a bulletin board or poster as a graphic representation of your dreams and ambitions. Once you've designed the board, displaying it in a prominent place will help serve as a daily reminder of your ambitions and career goals. You can read more about the how-to's of constructing a vision board by clicking here.
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